Lennox Area Ambulance Team Trains to Become Community Health Workers, Bringing Enhanced Health Services to Local Residents

A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a public health worker who acts as a link between health and social services and the community. This is according to the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota. The CHW's job is to help people access services and improve the quality of these services. They also help to increase health knowledge and self-reliance through outreach, education, counseling, social support, and advocacy.

Recently, three members of the Lennox Area Ambulance trained at Lake Area Technical College to become certified CHWs. A $50,000 grant from the South Dakota Department of Health made this possible. The team is now setting up a CHW program in Lennox, a task made difficult by Medicaid rules.

Once the program is ready, the team will collaborate with providers at the Sanford Clinic in Lennox. They will develop a process to refer patients who could benefit from a CHW. CHWs are trusted community members with a deep understanding of available services.

CHWs work with at-risk groups to connect healthcare and social programs. This improves quality of life and helps manage health conditions. Medicaid currently covers this service. The team hopes that Medicare and traditional insurances will also cover it soon. As a CHW, they provide resources directly in a person’s home to clients dealing with difficult medical or social situations.

CHWs also provide education. For instance, if a client is newly diagnosed with diabetes or has survived a heart attack, the CHW can help them navigate their new lifestyle. This includes providing nutritional advice, cooking lessons, and medication guidance. The Lennox Area Ambulance team is optimistic about the potential benefits of this program for the community.

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